Hurry, Part 1

“Hey, how are you?”
“I’m good, how are you?”
“Good.”
“What’s new?”
“Not much. Just busy.”
“Yeah, us too.”
“I hate it, but it is what it is.”
“Yeah, same.”
“Hey, we should get together soon.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
“Let me take a look at my calendar and let you know.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
“Talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”

Ever had a conversation like this? If you’re anything like me, you have these conversations weekly (probably more like daily). There’s a typical greeting, a generic response to the greeting, an obligatory inquiry (typically surface level), followed by the “B-word.” BUSY.

The dictionary defines the word busy as, “having a great deal to do.” This definition sort of makes you feel important. Although this might be true, in most recent conversations I’ve had where “busy” has been the conditioned response, it seems to carry a weight that most would love to get out from underneath.

The word busy is a derivative of an Old English word that meant “careful, anxious, or constant action.” Although some people wear it like a badge of honor, if asked, I think most would gladly exchange that badge for some free time. Whenever I have a conversation with someone who is not busy (which are far and few between), their conversations seemed to be slow, filled with pauses, and sometimes just straight silence. Initially, it drives me nuts. But given time, I find myself always wanting this sense of peace they have.

In his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer writes, “In our culture slow is a pejorative.” In other words, “Slow is bad; fast is good.”

When reading this, I felt a level of resistance rising up inside of me. Because in my world, slow is infuriating. I’m not a Type A personality. You know…..driven, rigid, impatient, or concerned with time kind-of-person. But as soon as I stand in a line at the grocery store or get into my car and get on the road, everything inside of me speeds up. My patience leaves and here comes frantic/busy-guy taking control of my thoughts and actions.

Some thoughts include:
“I don’t have time for this.”
“What’s taking so long?”
“What are you doing?”
“Come on people! Move it!”

So, why am I this way? It’s certainly not what I want. It’s not how I want to live my life. I want to have love for people, joy in my heart, and truly be a peaceful sort of person.

Comer writes, “Love, joy, and peace are the triumvirate at the heart of Jesus’ Kingdom vision. All three are more than just emotions; they are overall conditions of the heart. They aren’t just pleasant feelings; they are the kinds of people we become through our apprenticeship to Jesus, who embodies all three ad infinitum.”

He concludes, “All three are incompatible with hurry.”

Love. Joy. Peace. These are overall conditions of the heart. They are the kinds of people we become. They aren’t attributes you get to wear like a badge because you’ve proven anything. They are the outcome of a life intentionally centered in Jesus. This really spoke to me. I’ve known for a while that I’ve been operating in a busy state. I’ve sort of dismissed it because it’s just a part of life. But when I replace the word busy for hurried, it changes everything. I don’t want to be known as someone who is always in a hurry. I don’t want to feel hurried to do anything or go anywhere. I don’t want people to hurry around me. But unfortunately, a thorough scan of the world around, it’s a byproduct of the culture we live in.

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with what appears to be a man but is likely God himself (possibly an angel). In this wrestling match, God strikes Jacob’s hip and forces it out of the socket. I’m not sure if you’ve ever injured your leg, but it goes without saying a leg injury certainly causes you to slow down. I broke my ankle once and needless to say it forced me to be mindful of my steps. There is no doubt that Jacob’s wrestling match with God led to his blessing and eventually had a significant impact on his life, but as I read this passage I also couldn’t help but think that maybe the only way God could get Jacob to truly slow down and listen, to sincerely grab his attention and hear His voice,  was to physically alter his speed……to slow his hurry.

Towards the end of his chapter, Comer mentions Luke 10 and the encounter Jesus had with Mary and Martha. Martha is busy with preparation and things to do while Mary is sitting, waiting, and listening at the feet of Jesus. That’s it. Mary is in a posture of receptivity. She’s allowing Jesus to pour into her. But she can only do so if she stopped what she was doing, open her ears and heart, and let God speak.

I’m not sure where this meets you, but it’s meeting me exactly where I need it. It’s giving me some quality time I’ve needed with God. It’s released the pressure and stress to be more than I am. It’s allowing me to truly be filled by God’s presence and my hope is these words might kick-start something for you. You don’t need to have your hip popped out of socket to slow down, but honestly, sometimes it’s exactly what we need.

A New Year

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

If I were to count the number of times I’ve compared myself to another person in a single day, I might be too ashamed to tell anyone. So, why am I sharing my thoughts aloud with you? Well, because through the process of becoming a healthier person this year (on multiple levels) I decided it’s necessary to be more transparent than ever before. Transparency sounds scary to some, but I know it’s what most of us long for in relationships. It’s how trust is often built. It’s how communication grows and people remain above reproach. Allowing others to see what’s happening within can be extremely vulnerable. But I think it’s in that vulnerability where we find life…..and ultimately happiness and joy.

I’ve always been one who is more concerned about what others are doing instead of what’s in front of me. “Don’t worry about what others are doing. Worry about yourself.” Those are the words I heard my teachers, coaches, and parents tell me on a regular basis. Maybe it’s common for kids to be told these things, but maybe it isn’t. As I was digesting this quotation from Roosevelt the possibility occurred to me that maybe I have spent too much time allowing comparison to steal my joy. Generally speaking, I tend to be pretty happy, but there’s something in me that never really seems satisfied. Do you ever have that feeling? Themes about not being good enough, not having what it takes, and being “okay” at a lot of things yet not being great at any one thing seem to resonate with my soul. When I say these things aloud, I feel embarrassed. I don’t want to share this reality with anyone. I want to hide it. I want you to think I’m good. I’m content. I have it all together. No issues over here.

Unfortunately, I think I’m being robbed of the joy God has for me. It seems I’ve set my eyes far too low. God’s creation is wonderful and beautiful and it should be recognized as special. But I’ve allowed my gaze to be fixed for so long on things that are not God. They might be good things, but they certainly cannot be, nor ever will be, any source of life.

Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

You (meaning God) will fill me (me, you, and everyone else) with joy (happiness, pleasure, gladness, contentment) in your (God’s) presence.

In other words, the psalmist writes that the only way for him (you and me included) to truly be happy, to be full of joy and gladness (void of empty and unfulfilling comparisons) is to simply be in God’s presence.

So, how do we do that? This list isn’t exhaustive, but I’m going to share three ways I’m trying to be more intentional this year:

1. Audibly read scripture. The Bible is living and active so I’m going to speak it out loud as a reminder of its power to pierce and inspire.
2. Sing a song about/to Him. I sing lots of songs in my car, in my room and on my guitar, but I don’t always intentionally sing as if He were sitting in a chair next to me.
3. Breath. This sounds odd, but in many circumstances, we take deep breaths in sadness when we sigh, in joy when we’re excited, and in fear when we need courage. I heard a teaching long ago that the name of God, YHWH, was like the sounds we make when breathing. As if God put it in our lungs and on our lips to speak His name every single day (whether we know Him or not). So, with intentional breathing, I’m choosing to be more aware of God’s presence at least once a day and thank Him for my life.

I realize comparison may not be an issue for some, but maybe it’s something else that’s stealing your joy. Whatever it is, don’t ignore it. All I’m trying to do is acknowledge and be more aware of it so that I don’t have to live underneath it. I hope this year is a benchmark and one that isn’t strapped by the weight of any issue but is set free by God’s power and presence in every situation.